The band Ticket West is back on board with Greg Izor, who now also serves as producer after a previous collaboration on the 2023 release "Chucufu,", featuring Izor as vocalist and harmonica virtuoso. The eleven tracks were penned by Pascal Wilhelm, who sings and plays guitar. His brother Walter provides the bass lines, Paolo de Stigter sits on drums, Bas Kleine is adept on the harmonica, Roel Spanjers plays the keys on "Paying The Price," and Izor plays additional harmonica and guitar parts in addition to his production duties. Wilhelm's atypical blues voice is prominently featured throughout the songs, creating a fresh sound. Ticket West grows as a band with every album and continues to reinvent itself. Impressive! Highly recommended…

Two years ago, the third volume, titled ‘Shake That Thing’, appeared in the ‘Sin On Saturday, Pray On Sunday’ series. It took a while for this fourth volume to arrive, but it was worth it. Compiler Mark Armstrong once again selected 28 breathtaking tracks. Rhythm & blues were the preferred genres for Saturday nighttime entertainment, while gospel music in the local church on Sunday was meant to neutralize the sins committed the previous night.
Numerous legendary blues and rhythm & blues artists populate the fourth volume, which opens with the rocking ‘Cool, Calm And Collected’ by Guitar Gable and King Karl, who provides the vocals. The great Lightnin' Slim treats you to a beautifully bluesy ‘Too Close Blues’. On harmonica, you'll hear none other than Lazy Lester. Lightnin’ Slim is immediately followed by the country blues of Big Bill Broonzy on ‘Five Feet Seven’, recorded in 1949. Be sure to note the beautiful guitar work. Broonzy returns on the final track with Washboard Sam. We get our first gospel performance with Sister Wynona Carr and Brother Joe May on ‘It’s All Right’. A duet where their voices blend beautifully. This beautiful blend of voices also applies to the male vocal group The Stars Of Hope on ‘Where Shall I Go’, a catchy gospel number. Many blues artists left the Mississippi Delta in the hope of making a career in Chicago. One who certainly succeeded was Magic Sam. You hear him here on ‘Love With A Feeling’. On upright bass, you hear grandmaster Willie Dixon, who also recorded brilliant songs under his own name. Lee ‘Shot’ Williams also moved to Chicago, the blues mecca of its time. You hear him on the sublime guitar work of ‘Hello Baby’. Elmore James was also a great guitarist. ‘Rock My Baby Tonight’ is a wonderful example of his skill. Pay attention to the piano part, because Ike Turner was behind the black and white keys. Blues musicians often backed each other up during recordings. This was also the case when Sonny Boy Williamson II recorded ‘I Cross My Heart’. You can hear Sonny Boy on vocals and blues harp, of course. Willie Love was on piano, and Elmore James was one of the guitarists. An impressively convincing gospel comes with Rev. Julius Cheeks and ‘Turn Your Radio On’. Julius achieved his greatest success with The Sensational Nightingales. They would later appear with ‘I Want To Go’, on which Julius is the lead singer. Yes, it was a small world of artists back then. More beautiful gospel is yet to come with ‘Let Your Will Be Done’ by the Fairfield Four, as well as with The Pilgrim Travelers and their ‘Good News’. Besides guitar, Louie Meyers also played bass and harmonica. On the instrumental ‘Bluesy’, he leaves the harmonica to Junior Wells. On drums, you hear the renowned Fred Below, and brother Dave Meyers takes care of bass. Louie shines again on the equally instrumental ‘Just Whaling’. More impressive harmonica can be discovered on Sidney Maiden's ‘Hand Me Down Baby’. Expect a collaboration of talented musicians on the swinging ‘Glad I Don't Worry No More’ by The Fat Man. No, not Fats Domino, but drummer and singer Alfred Wallace. The members of the Sunnyland Slim Trio accompanied him. Besides piano, Slim also provided backing vocals, and guitarist was none other than Robert Lockwood. You can hear Sunnyland Slim himself performing under his own name on the follow-up, the classy blues ‘It's You Baby’. Julius King serves up a brilliant ‘one-man blues’, accompanying himself solely on guitar on ‘One O'Clock Boogie’.
A rousing, rocking rhythm & blues follows with ‘Yeah Baby’ by Stella Johnson, the title track of volume four. Because of his creative guitar playing, Jody Williams was one of the most sought-after session musicians in Chicago in the mid-1950s. Under the name ‘Sugar Boy’ Williams, he recorded ‘Little Girl’. Willie ‘Big Mama Thornton’ Mae was a leading figure in the blues scene. Here, she performs the well-known and raw ‘I Smell A Rat’. Brownie McGhee is no stranger. His recordings with Sonny Terry are well-known. Here, he takes a gospel approach with ‘I'm 10,000 Years Old’. The album ends with the swinging, down-home blues of Washboard Sam on ‘Washboard Swing’, featuring his apparent half-brother Big Bill Broonzy on guitar.
It's a tradition, but we can't help but conclude that the KokoMojo label has delivered yet another bull's-eye with the fourth volume in the 'Sin On Saturday, Pray On Sunday' series. Congratulations!

LeDoux’s mission in music has always been clear, a philosophy that rings more loudly now than ever before. “I'm just trying to write my own story and I'm a terrible pretender. I can't write a song that I have no relation with because people would figure that out pretty quick. I'll just stick to what I understand,” he explains. It’s precisely what reveals itself on the first taste of Safe Haven, “One Hand In The Riggin',” an old cowboy tune that LeDoux has an intimate relationship with.

Highly recommended, that's one of the many recommendations for this release. Pug Johnson is a Texas country artist whose songs transcend genre boundaries. He grew up on the outskirts of Beaumont, Texas, listening to a multicultural soundtrack of Cajun music, swamp pop, Tex-Mex, and honky tonk. These influences are evident on solo albums like "Throwed Off, Glad" and "El Cabron.". This is a blast of a release…!! 

Bobby Lee Trammell was born on January 31, 1934, as son of cotton farmers. His father Wiley played the fiddle, and his mother Mae played the organ at the local church. As a teenager, Bobby Lee played country music, and when Carl Perkins and Johnny Cash performed in Trammell's neighborhood, Perkins asked him to play a song. Perkins apparently found this convincing, advising Bobby Lee to contact Sam Phillips. To no avail! Trammell once said in an interview that his live performances were wilder than those of Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, or Little Richard. His performances were extremely extravagant and erotically provocative. Perhaps that was why he never truly broke through. The term ‘The Wild Man From Arkansas’ suited him perfectly.
He became legendary, however, in 1957, and instantly so, with ‘Shirley Lee’, a self-penned song that made rockabilly history. Thus, he certainly contributed to the evolution of ‘performance’ and ‘sound’.
In this release, the German label Bear Family Records brings together the most essential songs by this legendary rocker in its ‘Rocks’ series. Naturally, you'll find ‘Shirley Lee’, alongside ‘You Mostest Girl’, ‘Woe Is Me’, and ‘Arkansas Twist’, as well as a forgotten gem like the instrumental ‘Mayonnaise Man’.
Bobby Lee Trammell also managed to surround himself with incredibly talented musicians. For example, you'll hear guitarist James Burton on his hit ‘Shirley Lee’ and ‘I Sure Do Love You Baby’. Joe Maphis plays the six strings on ‘My Susie J – My Susie Jane’. Brothers Dorsey and Johnny Burnette play guitar on ‘Open Up Your Heart’ and ‘Woe Is Me’. Sonny Burgess plays the same instrument on ‘Been A Walking’ and ‘Hi Ho Silver’. Bobby Lee enlisted The Jordanaires for backing vocals on ‘Am I Satisfying You’. Another striking fact is that Trammell wrote the vast majority of the 32 songs himself, co-wrote a few, and covered ‘Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On’ with his own unique twist.
After listening, it becomes clear that Bobby Lee Trammell was one of the very best. The songs he wrote possess a tremendous hit-like quality, which he further enhanced with excellent arrangements and accompaniment. He demonstrated his wildest ability on his hit ‘Shirley Lee’, as well as on songs like ‘My Susie J-My Susie Jane’ and ‘Toolie Frollie’. Bobby Lee was capable of many things. For instance, he likely retained that wonderful twang in his voice from his country music past, which can be heard on ‘Uh Oh’. He repeatedly demonstrated that he can also handle ‘the twist’. His ‘Sally Twist’, of which both parts 1 and 2 are included, is particularly impressive. Bobby Lee Trammell passed away on February 20, 2008.
This album was compiled by respected music journalist and Arkansas expert Alex Petrauskas, who also wrote the liner notes. It includes a comprehensive biography of Bobby Lee, supplemented with rare photos, illustrations, and a complete discography.
‘Bobby Lee Trammell Rocks’ is not only a beautiful tribute but also a dream release for any rockabilly fan.

Audience With the Queen, Galactic’s forthcoming studio album with New Orleans rhythm and blues legend Irma Thomas, exemplifies all of that progress and more. Out April 11, 2025, the new album features Thomas’ Grammy-winning vocals on every track, marking a departure from their 10 previous studio LPs, most of which revolved around the band’s core instrumentalists – Ben Ellman (saxophones, harmonica), Rob Mercurio (bass), Stanton Moore (drums), Jeff Raines (guitar) and Rich Vogel (keyboards)  – accompanied by a mix of different vocalists, including Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and Josh Cagler.   

The name Teddy ‘Mr. Bear’ McRae might not immediately resonate with you. You've probably already heard his compositions, or on the recordings of the well-known artists he accompanied. Fortunately, labels like KokoMojo promote these artists, allowing you, as a reviewer, to discover impressive music. Theodore McRae, as his ID states, was also known simply as Mr. Bear, in addition to Teddy ‘Mr. Bear’ McRae. Teddy was an exceptionally versatile individual. Not only was he a tenor saxophonist, bandleader, arranger, composer, and producer, but he also owned Rae Cox Records.
McRae was born in Waycross, Georgia, on January 22, 1908, but grew up in Philadelphia. He began his musical career as a family, along with his brothers, guitarist and trumpeter Bobby and Dave on alto and baritone saxophones. He later moved to New York. In the 1920s and 1930s, he worked with Chick Webb and Artie Shaw, among others. After Webb's death, Teddy became the musical director of the band behind Ella Fitzgerald. McRae composed Shaw's most successful songs, namely ‘Back Bay Shuffle’ in 1938 and ‘Traffic Jam’ a year later. He played with, arranged, and wrote for some of the greatest artists, such as Billie Holiday, Benny Morton, Teddy Wilson, Red Allen, and Count Basie. In the 1940s, Teddy worked with the orchestras of Cab Calloway, Jimmie Lunceford, Lionel Hampton, and Louis Armstrong, for whom he also served as musical director. In the 1950s, McRae was active in rhythm & blues, composing songs such as ‘All She Wants To Do Is Rock’ for Wynonie Harris, ‘Love, Love, Love’ for The Clovers, and ‘Person To Person’ for saxophonist Eddie ‘Cleanhead’ Vinson. In the late 1950s, Teddy, along with jazz pianist and arranger Eddie Wilcox, founded Rae Cox Records and its subsidiary Enrica Records. Their recordings ranged across jazz, rhythm & blues, blues, doo-wop, gospel, and eccentric instrumentals. In 1958, McRae released his most sought-after 45, the formidable rocker ‘Hifi Baby’. A track you can, of course, hear on this album.
A staggering list of achievements, but let's talk about the album's 27 tracks. Teddy's worthy of the name ‘Mr. Bear’ is immediately apparent from the opening track, ‘I'm Gonna Keep My Good Eye On You’, which he recorded as Mr. Bear & His Bearcats. He growls and declaims the lyrics, accompanied by a beautiful bluesy, honky-tonk piano. That masterful piano playing is once again evident on the follow-up, the primarily instrumental ‘Daybreak Rock’, fueled by Mr. Bear's screams. A song he recorded with legendary pianist Jack Dupree. You'll hear the duo again later on ‘Lonely Road Blues’, where they complement each other vocally in the call-and-response style.
Teddy shines bluesy again on the emotionally charged ‘How Come’, and be sure to pay attention to the lyrics. Another blues highlight is ‘Hold Out Baby’, where his raw voice gives the song an extra boost.
McRae rocks with class on ‘Mr. Bear Comes To Town’ and, of course, on the aforementioned ‘Hifi Baby’. Teddy elaborates on the potential consequences of excessive speed in ‘Radar’, with great humor. His sense of novelty surfaces again on ‘Peek-A-Boo’.
Teddy and his orchestra were excellent accompanists, as can be heard on The Empires' doo-wopper ‘Zippety Zip’. The Serenaders' ‘My Girl Flip Flop’ also falls within the same genre. Teddy and his musicians repeat this on The Butanes' ‘Don't Forget I Love You’, as well as with The Revelons on their ‘I Promise Love’. The orchestra of Rae Cox Records co-founder Eddie Wilcox shines on The Sunsets' ‘Sittin' And Cryin'‘. The Carnations serve up more beautiful doo-wop on ‘Gimme Gimme Gimme’.
It's a fact that Rae Cox Records and Enrica Records have recorded a wealth of impressive material.
For example, gospel sets the tone for The Satellite Wanderers' ‘Meet Me In Zion’. A gem of an instrumental surf rocker arrives on The Demotrons' ‘Rockaway Special’. More brilliant instrumental work comes from Fender Guitar Slim on the rocking ‘Tender Rock’.
Screamin' Jay Hawkins appears twice. First, in his signature thunderous style, on ‘I Hear Voices’. The second time around, with the flipside ‘Just Don't Care’, Jay takes a more refined and calmer approach.
The album closes gospel-style with ‘What A Fellowship’ by Heavenly Gates Gospel Singers.
Teddy ‘Mr. Bear’ McRae passed away of natural causes at the age of 91 on March 4, 1999.
As you can see, Mr. Bear was a virtuoso at blending elements of rhythm & blues, jazz, rock 'n' roll, and the novelty genre. He also had an ear for the brilliant achievements of fellow artists, which he immortalized in his recordings for Rae Cox Records and Enrica Records. Unwittingly, he thus laid the groundwork for the upcoming legendary rockers and pioneers of the Motown sound. And pay close attention to his lyrics, because they're just as sublime as his melodies. A truly fantastic release!

Great loss of a singer-songwriter with an empathetic heart and a (too) late discovered musical talent.  

Forrest McDonald, a seasoned singer-songwriter, unveils Songs from My Soul, a heartfelt collection of authentic storytelling rooted in the experiences of everyday life. With a shift from the "Forrest McDonald Band" to a solo focus, this album dives deep into themes of love, hope, hard times, and faith. Blending his blues and blues-rock foundations with influences from Americana and folk, Forrest crafts songs that resonate emotionally, forging a powerful connection with listeners. Songs from My Soul is more than music—it’s a shared journey through the human condition. 

Let yourself be carried away by the multicultural sounds of this inventive quartet.

Real soul transcends all genres of music. R&B “got soul”, to only state the most obvious, but the best rock “got soul”, too. The Bluesmasters was founded based upon this principle, collectively bringing decades of blues and rock music internationally for many artists to include Jefferson Starship, Journey, Whitesnake, Elvin Bishop, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers, David Bowie, and many more. The Bluesmasters name is no idle boast. A collective of collaborators both live and in the studio include Mickey Thomas, Aynsley Dunbar, Leon Russell, The Allman Brothers Band, Elvin Bishop, Pat Travers, Eric Gales, Mick Fleetwood, Rusty Anderson, Abe Laboriel Jr, Jake E Lee, John Mayall, Pat Travers, Shemekia Copeland, Otis Taylor, Cassie Taylor, Magic Slim, Pinetop Perkins, and Hubert Sumlin to name a few. After substantial sales internationally that include 7 international studio releases and a Michel Shane-produced concert film, The Bluesmasters continue to create new music for blues and rock fans alike worldwide. New music is slated for 2025, incuding The Bluesmasters Featuring Cassie Taylor  and The Bluesmasters 20th Anniversary.

Exceptional strong and timeless debut from this French-Algerian songwriter.  Love it!

​​The release ‘A Place Where Songs Come To Live’ is the title of Vincent Cross’ latest album.  It's a collection of songs described as ‘a soul-stirring set of songs with stories of experiences lived’.
Seven of the album’s twelve tracks were recorded live at Creamery Studios in Brooklyn with a band in front of an intimate audience, capturing the immediacy and connection of performance. The remaining tracks were recorded in the same manner, without an audience, and the album will be available on CD and vinyl. Highly recommended! 

The Stroll is a somewhat slower rock 'n' roll dance from the 1950s. You can find plenty of videos online showing how it was originally performed. The current rockabilly revival also rekindled interest in the dances of the 1950s, including the Stroll, which was adapted to the zeitgeist. You can also find plenty of demonstrations of this adapted version online. The music, however, remained the same, as evidenced by the fifth volume in the "Stroll-A-Rama" series from the Atomicat label. Compiler Mark Armstrong once again selected 30 songs to serve as the soundtrack for the Stroll, while Henrique San did the artwork.
The kick-off is Jerry Woodard with the raw ‘Speedway Rock’, complete with the ‘sound of the speedway’. Kenny Lee Martin's ‘The Shape I'm In’ is also very enjoyable and a song suitable for airplay. Before LaVern Baker became a celebrated rhythm & blues singer, she began her musical career in a gospel choir. Both rhythm & blues and gospel resonate in the sublime ‘On Revival Day’, originally a Bessie Smith song, which LaVern delivers with immense passion. As a member of The Neville Brothers, Art Neville would achieve success in funk and soul music. Here he is with the classic ‘Cha Dooky-Doo’, which he recorded in 1958 for the Specialty label. A bit rawer and with a slightly faster tempo, the quintet of Rockin' Saints works its way through ‘Cheat On Me, Baby’. A smash hit! ‘Lover’s Hell’ is a song that will also please many popcorn lovers. Time for a bit of doo-wop. It's here with The Royal Lancers and their ‘Oh Little Girl’, a song featuring a delightful sax solo. Beautiful harmonies are also featured in The Ding Dongs' ‘Now We're One’, as well as in The Starlighters' ‘Let's Take A Stroll (Down Lover's Lane)’. Kenny and Mose also match vocally in ‘Tell Me That Your Love Is Real’. Betty Jayne calls it a ‘Lonely Teenager’. Apparently, that's not so bad, because it's a cheerful, up-tempo number. Jimmy Nolen played in James Brown's band, among others, where he made a name for himself with his guitar technique, the ‘chicken scratch’. You can also hear his superb guitar work in ‘How Fine Can You Be’, and he's also a talented singer. For a superb instrumental harmonica rhythm & blues, skip to George Allen Smith and ‘Loose Screws’. Later, there's the instrumental ‘New Orleans Hop’ by Monte Easter and his band. Both the sax and guitar are in the spotlight here. In the fifties and early sixties, dance crazes were very hot. There was also Curtis Lee's ‘The Wobble’. Lee worked with producer Phil Spector in his early years. ‘A Little Bit Of Soul’ by The Jarnels is certainly brilliant. The performance reminds me of Sam Cooke. The Witt Sisters are present with the Lieber/Stroller composition ‘Poison Ivy’. The flip side of this single featured The Andrew Sisters' ‘Boogiewoogie Bugle Boy’, and the Witt Sisters sound somewhat like that. Glen Pace, with his band The Gliders, delivers a superb ‘Tell Me’. The addition of steel guitar and accordion makes ‘Cats Eyes’ by Frank Zolton with Town and Country Boys sound incredibly creative. A cool twang guitar then tracks Ron Hargrave's ‘Drive In Movie’. A really great song, thanks in part to the call and response! You've undoubtedly heard countless versions of ‘Let The Good Times Roll’. But I bet John Ashley's version will surprise you. Excellent cover with a distinctly unique twist.
As is tradition, this series concludes with two recent songs that perfectly fit the zeitgeist of the other songs. This time, they're ‘I Know Who’ by Barbara Portland and ‘They Won't Let Me In’ by Texan Huelyn Duvall.
A series like "Stroll-A-Rama" never disappoints. In fact, it leaves you wanting more! Highly recommended!

The Boneshakers are back with Live To Be This, their 11th studio album and their most electrifying release yet. Set to drop in Summer 2025 onrenowned Blues Label Gulf Coast Records, this album brings the band’s signature Blues & Soul energy to soaring new heights, fueled by the powerhouse vocals of Jenny Langer and the masterful guitar work of Randy Jacobs. Produced by John Wooler, the visionary behind their ’90s breakout Book of Spells this album is a soulful journey through originals and reimagined classics, featuring an all-star lineup of special guests. Blues legends Bobby Rush, Charlie Musselwhite, Coco Montoya, Don Was, Jimmy Carpenter and more join the ride, with Rush delivering a show-stopping duet with Langer on Salty. From fiery funk-infused blues to raw, heartfelt storytelling,Live To Be This is a celebration of The Boneshakers’ legacy and their fearless future.

Shake Where You’re Steady, produced by venerable Chicago Singer-Songwriter, Steve Dawson, is an exploration of her most profound experiences. The heartbreak of watching her father leave her family in her early adolescence informed the album’s opening track, “Greatest Abandon,” which delves into her desire to love untethered by fear or past wounds. “I empathized so deeply with my mother’s sudden loss of a partner,” Chrissy explains, “and of course there was my loss, too.” Songs like “In the Meantime” reflect on hard times, while others, like “Only Now,” mark the start of healing. While some songs are reflections and other subconscious premonitions, her songwriting process mirrors her personal growth, a balance of instinct and revision, vulnerability and restraint.

Musicians and songwriters often remain in the shadow of the artists they accompany or for whom they wrote songs. Their contribution to the evolution of a musical genre is therefore unfairly underestimated. This is especially true for Niki Sullivan. Sullivan was not only a founding member of The Crickets, Buddy Holly's band, but also featured as a guitarist on Holly's now-legendary album ‘The Chirping Crickets’. As a songwriter, he was co-responsible for Buddy's classic "I'm Gonna Love You Too."
What you hear on ‘You Better Get A Move On!’, Sullivan's first solo album, is simply astonishing. You get seven previously unreleased tracks recorded in 1959 at Audio Recorders Studio in Phoenix, Arizona. This vinyl also includes two incredibly rare garage rock recordings Niki made in 1965 with his band Soul Inc. Furthermore, you'll hear ‘It's All Over’, Sullivan's only solo single for Dot Records. A major rockabilly classic! This single also includes the B-side, ‘Three Steps To Heaven’. Not to be confused with Eddie Cochran's song of the same name, as this is an original by Niki.
This release demonstrates that Nike Sullivan was a true talent. As a guitarist, singer, and songwriter, he far surpassed his peers. Each of the 12 tracks here is bursting with enormous hit potential, from straightforward rock 'n' roll to emotional ballads, as demonstrated on ‘Waitin’’ and ‘I Stand Alone’. Niki's instrumental surf skills are evident on ‘Take '9’. More of his grand instrumental work can be found on ‘Creepin' In’. Holly's influence on Sullivan is evident in his performances of ‘Treat 'Em Gently’ and ‘It Really Doesn't Matter Now’. Niki reprises the latter song with a 1960s approach with his band Soul Inc.
Fans of raw, no-nonsense rock 'n' roll, fans of Buddy Holly, and fans of true, pure rock 'n' roll from the genre's heyday should seize this opportunity. This release is limited to 500 copies worldwide and, thanks to the remastering of the original tapes by renowned music historian John Dixon, offers exceptional sound quality. The beautifully produced 10-page booklet includes liner notes by Roland Heinrich Rumtreiber and rare, nostalgic photos.
If you ask me...buy it now or regret it later!

Sometimes you have albums for which the rating 'absolutely recommended' or 'must have' is still too weak. Well Bobby 'Blue' Bland's 'His California Album' is one of those for which superlatives fall short. Bobby 'Blue' Bland already made several gems for the Duke label in the fifties and sixties. When Duke was sold in the seventies, Bobby found shelter at the ABC Dunhill label, where he could reach a wider white audience with his albums. 'Dreamer' and 'His California Album' are without a doubt beautifully polished diamonds. The German Bear Family Records re-released 'Dreamer' a few years ago and now it is the turn of 'His California Album'. Both albums were recorded in 1973/1974 with Steve Barri as producer and with Larry Carlton, Mel Brown and Dean Parks as guitarists. What immediately stands out is Bland's enormously versatile voice. A voice that gives shape to Northern soul, blues and gospel with class. When Bobby gets into a song, you immediately believe his story. That is immediately evident in the soulful opener ‘This Time I’m Gone For Good’. Bobby sounds both smooth and heartbreaking vocally when the song asks for it.
To mention the highlights on this album is simply impossible. This album contains 10 highly polished gems of songs about love, heartbreak and hope.
If you plan to buy only one soul album this year! Let it be the reissue of ‘His California Album’ by Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, now on 180g vinyl. That the album still sounds fresh, contemporary and lived-in after 5 decades, says enough. You will enjoy it for many years to come. You can be sure of that!

‘The America Chronicles’ is a powerful reflection of that journey. Years in the making, the album confronts the beauty, contradictions, and complexity of this country with clarity, compassion, and soul. It’s not just a collection of songs—it’s a witness account, an offering, and an invitation to listen.

The release ‘Ruke Joints and Honky-tonks’ is a mesmerizing mix of contrasting musical idioms, a performance that the guitarist absorbed like a sponge during his hard-earned youth in Kentucky. Over the decades, Rusty has had more than his share of roadhouses, juke joints and honky-tonks. His hearty musical stew is guaranteed to keep you moving from the first to the last note. Earwig Records label boss Michael Frank produced the tracks at Delmark Records’ Riverside Studio in Chicago, with Rusty’s trusty rhythm section featuring bassist Uncle Dave Zirnheld and drummer Gene Wickliffe. Guest guitarist Wayne Young appears on four tracks. The release ‘Roadhouses, Juke Joints and Honky-tonks’ is a statement for Rusty Ends & The HillBilly Hoodoo.  Highly recommended! 

Soulfful thought-provoking, a heart-stirring mix of Contemporary and Ole School Blues that give you the escape you’re looking for. 13 AMAZING TRACKS!  Recorded & Engineered at David Lange Studio in the Pacific Northwest.  You’ll love the warmth and soulfulness of this Album.  Vocals: Mercedes Nicole, Piano & Hammond Jake Sele, Bass Scotty Harris, Guitar Rod Cook, and Drums Andrew Cloutier.  A Must-have for your Music Library!

Californian singer-songwriter/guitarist Brad ‘Guitar’ Wilson has, after all these years, appropriated a soulful, contemporary sound. Brad, who is considered by his fan base to be one of the most talented guitarists, is also an exciting entertainer.